Geranium plant named ‘Balcolvio’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Balcovio’ characterized by its semi-double red-purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright, and trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Pelargonium peltatum.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcolvio’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcolvio’.

The new cultivar originated as a single plant in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif., during January 2000. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Geranium cultivars with a vigorous, upright and trailing growth habit, dark green-colored foliage, and new and unique flower color.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary P. peltatum breeding selection 2022, not patented, characterized by its semi-double, hot rose-colored flowers and dark green-colored ivy type foliage. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was proprietary P. peltatum breeding selection BFP-1293, not patented, characterized by its semi-double, dark burgundy-colored flowers and dark green-colored ivy type foliage. The new Geranium was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during February 2001 at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since February 2001 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill., has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcolvio’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Semi-double red-purple-colored flowers.     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage.     -   3. Vigorous, upright, and trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female primarily in flower color and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color.

Of the many commercially available Geranium cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Balcolilac’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,720. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of ‘Balcolilac’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar exhibit darker flower color than         plants of ‘Balcolilac’.     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of         ‘Balcolilac’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcolvio’. The plants were grown for 12 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcolvio’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a single umbel of ‘Balcolvio’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of a single flower of ‘Balcolvio’ showing the venation on the upper petals.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of a single leaf of ‘Balcolvio’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 15, 2004 between 10:00 and 11:45 a.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (15° C. to 18° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 4,000-6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Plants were pinched at three weeks after the planting of a rooted cutting.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum cultivar Balcolvio. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary P. peltatum breeding selection             2022, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary P. peltatum breeding selection             BFP-1293, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 to 14 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 8 to 10 weeks from rooted cutting             to finish.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright, and             trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 22.8 cm. Width/area of spread: Approximately             31.4 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 2             main branches per plant.         -   Branch.—Length: Approximately 16.7 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3 mm. Texture: Dense, appressed. Color: 146A.             Internode length at center of branch: Approximately 2.6 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 14. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.             Shape: Peltate. Margin: Palmately lobed. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Palmate. Texture of upper             surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface:             Sparsely pubescent with moderate pubescence along veins.             Color of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 146A             with venation of 144A and zone of 200A around petiole             attachment. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 146B.             Length of mature leaf: Approximately 3.7 cm. Width of mature             leaf: Approximately 6.4 cm. Petiole length: Approximately             3.1 cm. Petiole diameter: Approximately 1.7 mm. Petiole             texture: Densely pubescent on both upper and lower surface.             Petiole color: 144A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcolvio’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round under             greenhouse conditions.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 8 weeks after planting             of rooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5 to 7 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type.—Hemispherical umbel. Position: Above foliage. Number             of open umbels at any one time: 3. Number of developing             umbels at any one time: 2. Umbel diameter: Approximately             8.5 cm. Umbel height/depth: Approximately 4.7 cm. Number of             flowers per umbel: Approximately 7.         -   Peduncle.—Strong, erect. Length: Approximately 10.2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.9 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.             Color: 146A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 3 to 5 days for buds to             progress from first color to fully open floret.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elliptic. Length:             Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 9 mm. Petal             color: 63A. Sepal color: 144A.         -   Corolla.—Form: Semi-double. Shape: Round, slightly cupped.             Diameter/width: Approximately 5.3 cm. Depth: Approximately             2.4 cm. Fragrance: None. Persistent.         -   Petals/petaloids.—Quantity: Approximately 14 petals and 3             petaloids per flower. Arrangement: Imbricate. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture of upper and lower surface: Glabrous. Length of             upper petal: Approximately 3.3 cm. Width of upper petal:             Approximately 2 cm. Lower petal length: Approximately             2.5 cm. Lower petal width: Approximately 1.5 cm. Color of             all petals and petaloids: Fully opened, upper surface:             Closest to N66A and venation of 53A. Lower petals and             petaloids are N155B at base. Color of all petals and             petaloids: Fully opened, lower surface: N155D with venation             of 46D.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Angle: Acute. Length:             Approximately 2.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.4 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Closest to 146A.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Elliptic. Tip:             Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Sepal length:             Apprimately 1.5 cm. Width of largest sepal: 5 mm. Width of             smallest sepal: 3 mm. Texture: Upper/inner surface:             Glabrous. Lower/outer surface: Densely pubescent. Color:             Upper and lower surface: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: 8 per             flower. Filament length: Approximately 5 mm. Filament color:             155C at base, N57C at tip. Anther length: Approximately             3 mm. Immature anther color: 15D. Mature anther color:             Darker than 71A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 25A.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Stigma shape: 5 pointed star. Stigma             length: 5 mm. Stigma color: 61B. Style length: 2.5 mm. Style             color: 13D. Ovary length: 7 mm. Ovary texture: Sericeous.             Ovary color: 143B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Geraniums has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Balcolvio’, substantially as herein shown and described. 